Self-weighing container

Abstract

A self-weighing container for transporting delivery items includes a weight-sensing device that is configured to sense a weight of a delivery item that is placed inside the container; a microcontroller that is connected to the weight-sensing device; and a display that is connected to the microcontroller. When a delivery item is placed in the container, the weight-sensing device produces a signal that corresponds to the weight of the delivery item and the microcontroller receives the signal and determines the weight of the delivery item based on the signal. The microcontroller may transmit an indication of the weight to the display, which displays the weight based on the indication of the weight, or the microcontroller may transmit the weight to a smart phone for display.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A container for transporting delivery items, the container comprising:
 a corrugated cardboard box; 
 a weight-sensing device that is configured to sense a weight of a delivery item that is placed inside the corrugated cardboard box; 
 a microcontroller that is connected to the weight-sensing device via one or more wires that are within corrugations of the corrugated cardboard box; and 
 a display that is connected to the microcontroller; 
 wherein, when a delivery item is placed in the container:
 the weight-sensing device produces a signal that corresponds to the weight of the delivery item; 
 the microcontroller receives the signal and determines the weight of the delivery item based on the signal; 
 the microcontroller transmits an indication of the weight to the display; and 
 the display displays the weight based on the indication of the weight. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the weight-sensing device comprises pressure indicating paper. 
     
     
       3. The container of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure indicating paper produces a plurality of signals corresponding to different areas of the pressure indicating paper; and
 wherein the microcontroller determines the weight utilizing an algorithm that averages the plurality of signals from the pressure indicating paper. 
 
     
     
       4. The container of  claim 2 , wherein the container is collapsible. 
     
     
       5. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the weight-sensing device comprises a load cell. 
     
     
       6. The container of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the weight-sensing device comprises a plurality of load cells; 
 each load cell of the plurality of load cells produces a signal that corresponds to a part of the weight of the delivery item that is sensed by the load cell; 
 the container is prefabricated in a cuboid shape; 
 the container further comprises a plate that is connected to the plurality of load cells; 
 the delivery item that is placed in the container rests on the plate, which distributes the weight of the delivery item among the plurality of load cells; and 
 the microcontroller calculates the weight based on signals from the plurality of load cells. 
 
     
     
       7. The container of  claim 6 , wherein the microcontroller calculates the weight utilizing an algorithm that averages the signals from the plurality of load cells. 
     
     
       8. The container of  claim 1 , further comprising an amplifier connected to the weight-sensing device and the microcontroller, wherein:
 the weight-sensing device is connected to the microcontroller via the amplifier; and 
 the amplifier amplifies the signal from the weight-sensing device and transmits the signal that was amplified to the microcontroller. 
 
     
     
       9. The container of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one selected from a group consisting of:
 a push-button switch connected to the microcontroller that causes the microcontroller to change units of the display; 
 a temperature sensor connected to the microcontroller that produces a signal that corresponds to temperature inside the container; 
 a humidity sensor connected to the microcontroller that produces a signal that corresponds to humidity inside the container; 
 an accelerometer connected to the microcontroller that produces a signal that corresponds to movement of the container; 
 a Global Positioning System receiver connected to the microcontroller that produces a signal that corresponds to global coordinates of the container; or 
 a light sensor connected to the microcontroller that produces a signal that corresponds to light sensed within the container. 
 
     
     
       10. The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless transmitter connected to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller transmits an indication of the weight to a device via the wireless transmitter. 
     
     
       11. A container for transporting delivery items, the container comprising:
 a corrugated cardboard box; 
 a weight-sensing device that is configured to sense a weight of a delivery item that is placed inside the corrugated cardboard box; 
 a microcontroller that is connected to the weight-sensing device via one or more wires that are within corrugations of the corrugated cardboard box; and 
 a wireless transmitter connected to the microcontroller; 
 wherein when a delivery item is placed in the container:
 the weight-sensing device produces a signal that corresponds to the weight of the delivery item; 
 the microcontroller receives the signal and determines the weight of the delivery item based on the signal; and 
 the microcontroller transmits an indication of the weight to a device via the wireless transmitter. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The container of  claim 11 , wherein the device is a user device that displays the weight in response to receiving the indication of the weight from the microcontroller. 
     
     
       13. The container of  claim 11 , wherein the device is a server that:
 receives and stores the indication of the weight in a database; and 
 transmits the indication of the weight to a user device based on a request received from the user device. 
 
     
     
       14. The container of  claim 11 , wherein the weight-sensing device comprises pressure indicating paper. 
     
     
       15. The container of  claim 14 , wherein the container is collapsible. 
     
     
       16. The container of  claim 11 , wherein the weight-sensing device comprises a load cell. 
     
     
       17. The container of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the weight-sensing device comprises a plurality of load cells; 
 each load cell of the plurality of load cells produces a signal that corresponds to a part of the weight of the delivery item that is sensed by the load cell; 
 the container is prefabricated in a cuboid shape; 
 the container further comprises a plate that is connected to the plurality of load cells; 
 the delivery item that is placed in the container rests on the plate, which distributes the weight of the delivery item among the plurality of load cells; and 
 the microcontroller calculates the weight based on signals from the plurality of load cells. 
 
     
     
       18. The container of  claim 11 , further comprising an amplifier connected to the weight-sensing device and the microcontroller, wherein:
 the weight-sensing device is connected to the microcontroller via the amplifier; and 
 the amplifier amplifies the signal from the weight-sensing device and transmits the signal that was amplified to the microcontroller. 
 
     
     
       19. The container of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one selected from a group consisting of:
 a push-button switch connected to the microcontroller that causes the microcontroller to change units of the display; 
 a temperature sensor connected to the microcontroller that produces a signal that corresponds to temperature inside the container; 
 a humidity sensor connected to the microcontroller that produces a signal that corresponds to humidity inside the container; 
 an accelerometer connected to the microcontroller that produces a signal that corresponds to movement of the container; 
 a Global Positioning System receiver connected to the microcontroller that produces a signal that corresponds to global coordinates of the container; or 
 a light sensor connected to the microcontroller that produces a signal that corresponds to light sensed within the container. 
 
     
     
       20. The container of  claim 10 , wherein the device is a user device that displays the weight in response to receiving the indication of the weight from the microcontroller. 
     
     
       21. The container of  claim 10 , wherein the device is a server that receives and stores the indication of the weight. 
     
     
       22. The container of  claim 11 , wherein the device is a server that receives and stores the indication of the weight.